The Irish standard., 1887-12-31
BRAz,zLETON,S DEEDS.
| Memory Of Arizona's Dick Turpin. the
Lone Stage Kobber.

BRAZZLETON'S DEEDS.
A Memory OF Arizona's Dick Turpin. the
Lone Stage Robber.
Tucson had the honor of producing
a man named Bill Brazzleton, who
made business OF robbing stages
single-handed. and in ali that goes to
make up the wary, skillful and sue
cessful highwayman he took prece-
dence Of all his kind and yet holds it.
Bill was nearly thirty years old be-
fore he went into the business Of rob-
bing stage-coaches His robberies
were all perpetrated in the most ap-
proved manner, and with little or no
danger to his victims, beyond the loss
of their valuables He was the first
and only man in Arizona who ever
robbed stage-coach alone, and in this
particular he surpassed even the dar-.
ing OF the two men who "held up" the
train on the Southern Pacific a few
weeks ago. Brazzleton never had an
assistant in any Of his robberies, and,
so far as known, never made a conf
dant of but one man, and this man
finally betrayed him to. the posse Of
law officers by whom he was killed.
He once robbed a stage containing
seven passengers. all of whom were
prepared for him.. They knew Of him
and had started out of Tucson thor
oughly armed.
Brazzleton determined to give these
seven men an opportunity to defend
themselves. He posted himself out on
the road about twenty miles from
Tucson, and about eleven o'clock be
saw the coach coming. He was just
over the brow OF hill and could not
be seen by the driver or passengers.
He sat on his horse, leveled bis rifle,
and as they came over the hill they
saw both rider and gun and they knew
1T once who it WIS and what it meant
He commanded them not to move 3
hand. and they obeyed. Their re-
volvers hung unused al their sides,
and their rifles lay idle in the bottom
of the coach. They knew it was deati,
to somebody the moment a move was
made, for Bill was the best shot in
Arizona, and they sat transtixed with
fear He demanded them to get out
one by one, lay down their arms, stand
in a row and diveet themselves Of ali
their money and valuables. This they
did, piling about $4,000 worth of
treasure up in a, heap before them
They were then told to 60 back in ths
coach mnd drive On, Mr. Brazz!eton
taking possession OF every shing that
had been left behind
Brazzleton took particular delight il
this style OF robbery. 1t was q pas
SION with him. snd he seemed to in
dulgs it more for the pleasure it gavs
him than for she money be secured.
He cared nothing for money for its
own sake and spent but little, - ha
neither drank nor gamhled. IL was
no uncommon thing for hiro 80 roa
people .nd then return part OF all he
had taken. EEe once ran foul ot 3
newspaper man who had but ten dol~
lars. When Brazzleton learned his
business he gave hi1u back five dollars,
with the remark that ho would probe
bly, need it. He had q great regard
for women snd would never rob 3
stage coach where &ny Of the pas.
senger. were women. II he ever
killed anybody i have not heard OF
it, but he WAS, nevertheless,
the terror Of the country while ht
was at large, and he was hunted FOR
months like wild beast. The sheriff
OF She county in which Tucson is
situated resolved to destroy him at all
hazards, for he was doing q great in~
jury to the business Of this part OF the
Territory, all travellers fearing t.
come this way. Finally, after one OF
his robberies, he was traced by q
peculiar shoe on his horse to a GER
tain stable, where, it seems, he was IN
the habit Of obtaining information re-
garding wealthy travellers from his
only confd;lnt. The latter was a
groom, and, to induce him to betray
Brazzleton, he was hung up by she
heels until he consented to talk. He
agreed TO conduct the sherif's posse
to Brazzleton's rendezvous, on condi-
tion they would not take their prisoner
alive. For" said he, "if you do
not kill him he will kill me-" He said
he was to take Brazzleton something
to eat that very night, and that, If
they would accompany him, they
could see him and kill him.
The sheriff promised to have the
highwayman shot at sight, and &C.
cordingly the law officers were guided
to deep, prec,pitous mountain gorge
where there was heavy growth OF
timber. The entire posse Of six lay
down behind the fallen tree and wait
ed for the coming of the great high
wayman. By and by they saw him
approaching, He rode out Of the thick
brush into d little opening with a
cleaning revolver in his right hand,
which hung rather carelessly at his
side. Those who were there at the
time have told me they had never be-
fore seen 80 superb an equestrian as
Brazzleton was at that fatal moment.